Electric switch



y 1951 F. .1. RUSSELL 2,561,450

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 24, 1951 F. J.RUSSELL 2,561,450

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g 5646 787 674.3%4a 4a 46 E 7 BMW July 24, 1951 F. J. RUSSELL 2,561,450

ELECTRIC SWITCH Fild March 21, 1945 1 s Sheets-Sheet z Patented July 24,1951 UNITBDQ PATENT f OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Frank J. Russell,Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis acorporation of Delaware Application March 21, 1945, Serial No. ssasssload conditions.

f trated without departing from This invention relates is particularlyapplicable to multi pole solenoid operated contactor's which are capableoi general use but control.

are especially adapted for aircraft large aircraft of recent design areprovided with control systems in which a "phase A. 0.

current of relatively high voltage is used" to operate various motordriven controls. In these systems it is necessary to 'eifect control ofthe A. .C. circuits by means of electromagnetic contactors which arecapable of being controlled from remote points through the medium ordinot current pilot circuits of low voltage. Con- I tactors for thisservice must have'various characproportion to 6. Confinement and quickextinguishment of The present invention has among its objects .toprovide a'simple, rugged and inexpensive multinoted characteristics.

Another object is to provide acontactor of the pole solenoid operatedcontactor having the above aforesaid character having a novel areextinguish .ingnnd confining structure for the contacts of the severalpoles which is-dust-tight and which renders the switch capable ofinterrupting exceedingly heavy currents without flashover arcingbetweenthe contacts of the various poles.

v Another object is to provide an improved sole- .noid operatingmechanism for contactors of the aforesaid type which is. positive andreliable in operation and which provides for closure of the contactswithout rebound.

vYaricqus other objects and advantages ofthe invention will hereinafterappear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate arr-embodiment of the inventionwhich will now be described. it being understood. that variousmodifications may be-made in theembodiment illusthe spirit andscopeofthe appended claims. I

[In the drawings;

; 1 Claims. (01. 2004144) to electric switchesand Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of'a contactor embodying the invention;

P18. 2 is an end elevational view of a contactor shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on linel-i of Fig-2;

Fig. 4 is a-diagrammatic view of the solenoid operating winding shown inFig. 3 and a control thereforincluding an auxiliary Figs. 2 and 3; 1

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line H of Pig. 5;

v Fig. '7 is an'isometric view of the contact enclosing partsillustrated in section in Figs. 3 and 5, and

of the contactor parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

The contactor illustrated in the drawings consists of an operatingassembly I and a contact assembly I. solenoid winding 3 and anassociated magnetic .plunger 4 which are carried by a pair of endsupporting brackets I and t. Contact assembly '2 includes aplurality ofmovable bridging. contacts I each of which cooperates with a pair ofstationarycontacts I and i. Stationary contacts I and I are mounted uponan insulating 'base 0 which is secured to the end brackets i and i, andbri in contacts I are carried by an elongated insulating bar I! which isoperatively connected to plunger 4 by a pivoted operating lever I I.Base plate S has a removable insulating cover I! mounted thereon. and ashereinafter set forth said base plate is provided with barrierprojections which engage bar it and fit into recesses formed on theinterior of said cover to provide individualarcing chambers for each ofthe stationary contacts 8' and l".

More specifically, solenoid winding 3 is mounted within a magneticcasing lsof tubular form. and 0 as shown in Fig. 3 said winding is woundupon a having a magnetic washer IS. fixed to the left hand end thereofand a non-magnetic washer ll fixed to the right hand end thereof. Washerll is secured between a shoulder-I I and an inwardly extendingflange-projection il formed on the left hand end of easing i3 and washerl6 fits snugly within the right hand end of said casing. Brackets I and6 are clamped against opposite ends of easing llby four bolts I! to m,which extend between said brackets. These bracketsare formed of magneticsheet material and each is provided with a rcctangular body portion;having parallel leg extensions 12 and c formed on opposite sides 55.thereof. The body portions a of brackets i and s switch shown in 1 Figs.8 and 9 are perspective views of certain Operating assembly I. includesa.

bobbin comprising a cylindrical brass tube ll,

3 ereprovidedwith corner openings (Pie. 2) for receivlnx the bolts ".nndsaid hraeketsaresoartensed that the'lee extensions 1: and c thereofextendoutwerdlywithreepeottoonsingll. Washer II is shouldered to fltwithin an openinthebodyportioncoihrncketinndthelntthsndi'soethereoi'isshnpedtoprovide Ii. Aoore plug 22,

snennuierpoleproieetion wlthinenopenincinthebodyportiona intotherighthnndend pported ehowninIlg.8theopposinghoeeotnndoorepluglisreprovidedwith sooilspring a.

provided with a pivot pin mldwny between the ends in Fig. 3 legvextension b to eoreplug II. enlergedheedfliormedontheinnerendthereoiwhiehisheldinsnesgementwithplungerlmtderthenctionoi sprhu 28 to provide ior movementof said pin withssidpluneer.

AsslwwninFig.4.solenoidwinding'iesdsptrentincoilseetionl'isreduceduponinehnion olooilsectionl'butwhenplungerlmoveslnto ite attracted position ooil section 3' actsoumulntively with ooil section I. Also upon mowenientoipluneerlintoitssttrectedpositionthe wlthinsleeve plunger 4.

4 ring projection ll with the face of pole projection ii on washer ll.

End bracket I is provided with s molded insnoisstrip ieltedeimehowninl'iuisndtthebolts it's-mimedtoseoureeovermemberl'toitssseocistedbrsoketisndtheboltslvsndlrsre I.shownlnl'lgs.tsndo.insuletinebsrll together at opposite ends by rivets42. These seetionssreiormsdtoprovideeouellyspaced openings 48 forreceiving toward the left through the medium oftoefl'eotenesgementotbridgingeonteets'lw their cooperating etstionsryeontsots I Upon i'ull movement of her it into its ex air-Zportionsliissecuredtobsseibynscrewbindinl post II which is sssocietedwith the outer end holdineroreethereonissusmentedbyseslingoi 75 thereof.

As hereinbefore stated, base 9 has a removable insulating cover I!mounted thereon, and said b is provided with barrier projections whichengage bar II and fit into recesses formed on the interior of said coverto provide individual arcing chambers for each of the stationarycontacts 8 and I". As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the top face of base I isformed to provide two rows of similarly shaped upwardly extendingbarriers 52 and 53 which are arranged in opposed relationon oppositesides of bar ll. Each of these rows includes end barriers 54 and 55 andtwo intermediate barriers 56 and 51. The barrier projections in row 52extend outwardly from one side of bar II to provide spaced recesses forstationary contacts t and the barrier projections in row 53 extendoutwardly from the opposite side of said bar to provide spaced recessesfor stationary contacts 9'. Each of the barrier projections 5| to 51 hasa right angle projection 41 formed on the inner end thereof for engagingbar It.

Cover i2 is box-shaped to receive barrier projections SI to 51 and issecured to base 9 by means of screws 58 carried by lug projections 59formed on the upper face of said base. As shown in Fig. 7, the top wallof cover 12 is provided with an elongated recess 69 for receiving barit, and said wall is also provided with recesses 6| for receiving theupper ends of projections 54* on barriers 54, recesses 52 and S3 forreceiving the upper ends of barriers 56 and 51; recesses it forreceiving barriers 55 and projections 65 for engaging barriers Sl. Alsothe side walls of said cover are provided with recesses 66 for receivingthe outer edges of barriers 55, 56 and 51. A heat resisting gasket 61formed of asbestos sheet mate rial is interposed between base 9 andcover I! to provide a dust-tight joint between these parts.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the above described barriers formwith bar Ill and cover [2 small individual arcing chambers for theseveral stationary contacts 8 and 9. Base 9, bar It and cover I2 arepreferably formed of molded melamine resin material, and in practice ithas been found that by forming these parts of this material the contactenclosing structure is capable oi handling exceedingly heavy arcingcurrents without flash-over between contacts of the various poles. Whileapplicant does not desire to be restricted to any particular theory ofoperation of his are extinguishing structure its effectiveness mayextend at least in part to the use of melamine resin in the abovementioned parts which prevents what is known as are tracking and also tothe provision of small arcing chambers for the various stationarycontacts.

It has been found that the above described solenoid operating mechanismeifects closure of bridging contacts I without substantial rebound andalso provides an exceedingly large operating force for moving saidcontacts into circuit closing position and for maintaining the sametherein. Plunger I and bar III are so designed that the same are ofequal weight. As hereinbefore stated, lever H is pivoted midway betweenits ends and it is thus apparent that accelerating forces which tend tomove bar It and plunger 4 longitudinally are neutralized through themedium of said lever.

As hereinbefore stated, base 9 is secured to brackets 5 and 6 by screwsll. These screws extend through slotted openings in legs 5 and 6 ofbrackets 5 and 6 and are threaded into base 9. Thus by loosening screws4| base 9 can be adjusted with respect to brackets 5 and 6 to vary thedegree of movement of bar It upon energizetion of solenoid winding 3. Asis apparent from Fig. 3, upon adjustment of base 9 toward the right,plunger 4 is moved outwardly with respect to winding 3 to increase thedegree of movement of bar It, while adjustment of said base in anopposite direction has an opposite eifect. Base 9 is adjusted withrespect to brackets '5 and 6 by a pair of set screws 69. These setscrews engage shoulders Ill formed onopposite ends of base 9 and arecarried by brackets H fixed to the legs 5 and 6 of brackets 5 and 5.

The lower ends of the screw binding posts 5| are insulated from brackets5 and 6 by a sheet of insulating material I2 which is interposed betweensaid brackets and the underside of base 9. Also the upper ends of saidbinding posts are shielded by a pair of insulating cover members 13which are secured to opposite sides of base 9 by screws [4. As shown inFigs. 3 and 5 solenoid winding 3 is provided with terminal leads 15which are connected to screw binding posts 16 mounted upon the righthand end of base 9.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circuit controller, in combination, a stationary insulatingbase, a plurality of contact sets each including a pair of stationarycontacts and a cooperating bridging contact, said bridging contactsbeing arranged in spaced parallel relation and said stationary contactsbeing fixed to said base, and an elongated insulating carrier for saidbridging contacts located between said pairs of stationary contacts andguided and supported upon said base for reciprocation in a straight lineto move said bridging contacts into and out of engagement with theirassociated stationary contacts, and a box-shaped insulating coversecured to said base and forming therewith a complete dust-tightenclosure for ,said contacts and said carrier, said carrier and itsassociated bridging contacts being held in assembled position upon saidbase by said cover member and said base being provided with barrierprojections on opposite sides of said carrier which fit into recessesformed on the interior of said cover and form with said cover and saidcarrier individual arcing chambers of restricted volume for saidstationary contacts.

2. A multi-pole switch comprising an elongated reciprocable slide bar ofinsulating material, a plurality of contact sets spaced longitudinallywith respect to said bar and each comprising a pair of stationarycontacts arranged on opposite sides of said bar and a cooperatingbridging contact mounted transversely upon said bar, an insulatingenclosure for said contact sets including a bas member and a removablecover member, said stationary contacts being fixed to said base memberand each pair thereof having integral terminal portions which extendoutwardly and in opposite directions with respect to said bar throughterminal outlets provided in opposite sides of said base member and saidbase member having walls which form with said bar and said cover memberindividual arcing chambers for each stationary contact together with aportion of its cooperating bridging contact, said chambers each whollyisolating the arcing occurring at each of the respective stationarycontacts.

3. A multi-pole switch comprising an elongated reciprocable slide bar ofinsulating material, a, plurality of contact sets spaced longitudinallywith respect to said bar and each comprising a pair of stationarycontacts arranged on opposite sides of said bar and a cooperatingbridging contact mounted transversely upon said 1hr, an ina,ssi,sso

sulating enclosure for said bar and said contact sets to which saidstationary contacts are fixed, said enclosure having partitions andtogether with said bar forming for each fixed contact and thecooperating part of its brid in contact an individual isolating chamber,and said bar throughout its operating range having its opposite endsprojected into closely fitting pocketsiormedinthewallsoisaidenclosuretomaintain said bar eflective as aninsulating barrier between said sets of stationary contacts in alloperating positions of said bar.

4. asanarcextinguishingdeviceforanelectric switch of the class whereincircuit is closed and opened by bridging contacts moving into and out ofengagement with pairs oi stationary contacts, in combination, a commoninsulating movable carrier in which are transversely mounted saidbridging contacts, and an insulating housing having barriers whichinterengage with said carrier to provide for each stationary contact anda portion of its associated bridd contact an individual arcing chamber,each or which chambers is isolated from the others for wholly isolatingthe arcing occurring between each of the stationary contacts and theirassociated bridging contacts.

5. A multi-pole switch comprising an elongated reciprocable slide barformed of insulating material, a plurality of contact sets spacedlongitudinally with respect to said bar, each of said contact setsincluding a pair of stationary contacts arranged on opposite sides ofsaid bar and a cooperating bridging contact mounted transversely uponsaid bar, and an insulating enclosure for said contact sets including abase member and a removable cover member, said base member having wallswhich form with said bar and said cover member individual arcingchambers .for each of said stationary contacts and a portion 01' itscooperating bridging contact, each of said individual chambers beingisolated from the others for wholly isolating the arcing occurringbetween each of the stationary contacts and their cooperating bridgingcontacts.

6. A multi-pole switch comprising, in combination, an insulating slidebar having a plurality of spaced bridging contacts transversely mountedthereon, end contact portions on each or said bridging contacts, a pairor stationary contacts associated with each of said bridging contacts tobe engaged by the end contact portions thereof, and an insulatinghousing providing in cooperation with said slide bar a plurality ofindividual enclosed arcing chambers, one for each stationary contact andthe mating end contact portion of its associated bridging contact, saidchambers each being isolated from the others for wholly isolating arcingoccurring between said stationary contacts and their associated bri gincontacts.

7. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary insulating base,a plurality 0! contact sets each including a pair of stationary contactsmounted upon said base and an associated movable bri l contact, a commoninsulating carrier for said bridging contacts supported by said base andreeiprocable in a straight line to move said bridging contacts into andout of engagement with their associated stationary contacts, and aninsulating cover member secured to said base and iorming in cooperationwith said base and said imulating carrier an individual enclosed arcingchamber for each stationary contact and the mating portion 01' itsassociated bridging contact. said chambers each being isolated from theothers tor wholly isolating arcing occurring between said stationarycontacts and their associated bridging contacts.

FRANK J. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,330 Moskowitz Dec. 14, 10971,706,158 Hendricks, Jr Mar. 19, 1929 2,071,149 Wilms et al Feb. 16,1937 2,227,434 Bierenfeid Jan. 7, 1941 2,310,056 Bendz Feb. 2, 19432,326,825 McMahon Sept. 7, 1943 2,390,344 Ayers et a1 Dec. 4, i945FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 688,207 Germany Feb. 16, 1940

